New varieties of online threats are being crafted and launched in the digital world every day. A lot of our information, from bank accounts to home addresses, is saved on our computer. Now more than ever, we need to be fully protected when it comes to our computers and mobile devices. It’s crucial to use trusted antivirus software on your computers and devices.

If you do not have any software for protection, you become vulnerable to all types of cyber-attacks from malicious entities. Worms can bury themselves into your local network and infect your computer system as time passes by. Ransomware can take control of your machine and force you to pay ridiculous amounts of money to regain control.

It’s incredibly obvious that, nowadays, antivirus software is a necessity for any computer owner. There are so many options available in the market since different pc users have different needs when it comes to security. A lot of companies will claim that their software is the best among all the brands. Due to this abundance of options, it can feel like making the right choice becomes a challenge. That is why we’ve compiled a set of criteria that you can use to evaluate your options.

 

 

Security Standards

The first and most significant thing you should look at when choosing the right antivirus software for you is the software’s ability to actually deal with malware and viruses. The purpose of buying antivirus software is to give protection to your device against malware and virus. You need to find out if it can detect, eliminate, and thwart viruses from doing harm to you and your device.

Normally, the antivirus software will prompt you to run a scan so that it can hunt for any viruses in your system. Then, you can choose to quarantine or completely get rid of the files that are infected. But how would you know which companies make the best antivirus software with the best scanning ability and strongest security measures?

One great starting point is to look at expert reviews. You can find out all you need to know from tech experts who write online reviews of products such as antivirus software. You can compare brands and subscription packages using these in-depth reviews. When you are looking to protect your computer and devices, you should aim to find antivirus software that has the ability to deflect threats as well as eliminate them.

A good antivirus software should include the following at the very least:

• Reactive scanning for files – When you download any new file, the antivirus software will determine whether this new file contains any risk and alert you if it discovers something.

• Full system scan – A good quality antivirus software should be able to scan your whole system for any concealed threats. The software should detect viruses or Trojans that are hidden inside your files.

• Protection for web browsing – The antivirus you install should be able to filter through URLs and notify you whether a certain address is safe to access or not. The software should also categorize web pages according to how risky they are.

The features mentioned above are just some of the basic ones that should be offered by any anti-virus software worth your money. In addition to detecting viruses, you should also utilize virus removal to get rid of viruses that may have already made their way inside your computer.

While comparing the different options for antivirus programs, be sure that the program offers antivirus as well as antimalware. Malware is the general category for different types of malicious software and viruses fall under this. There are antimalware programs that are not totally equipped with the capacity to deal with a virus that can change their code and self-replicate.

Accuracy

Even if you buy the most expensive and most powerful antivirus software, it cannot remove viruses in your computer if it cannot detect them accurately. That is why accuracy is a highly crucial aspect when it comes to antivirus programs. It is essential that the software can detect and eliminate viruses accurately while keeping the files safe.

Below is a list of features that you should check for to make sure that the software you choose can accurately do its job.

• Good detection rates – Detection rates will tell you how accurately your antivirus software can detect and eliminate various kinds of viruses.

• Database for known threats – A lot of companies have a complete database of all the currently known computer viruses. When unusual activity is detected, a good quality protection program will compare it to their list of known threats to check whether the anomaly is a type of virus.

• True Positives – This refers to the software successfully identifying or detecting a virus and is the ideal case for computer users.

• True Negatives – This refers to the software identifies that it is safe for the user to open a file or program and it actually is.

• False Positives – This refers to the software identifying unusual activity as a virus but it’s actually not. Some programs will remove files that are detected as false positives.

• False Negatives – This refers to the software notifying the user that is safe to open a file when in reality, it’s infected with a virus.

To get the best antivirus software, you should look for a system with both true positives and true negatives. These two elements need to work together so that your security program can smoothly run and keep your computer safe.

 

Ease of Use

When it comes to choosing any kind of software whether it’s a video editor or antivirus software, ease of use is something you would want to consider. The significance of this factor may vary from one individual to another. If you just use the basic functions of your machine or device, you would want to find something that is easy to navigate. If you are more tech-savvy and know your way in and out of your computer, you probably won’t be bothered as much by how complicated the software is.

On top of that, having a simple and clean interface can be an all-or-nothing for some users. People who are computer savvy and know their way around their devices can easily explore new programs that are unfamiliar. However, not all computer users are experts.

Still, no matter how simple or complex your antivirus is, having automatic updates is an essential feature you need to take advantage of. This means that you do not need to worry about manually updating your software. Look for a brand that includes automatic installation and downloads of their latest updates for virus protection. Since different kinds of viruses are created endlessly, this is an important feature to have in your antivirus software.

A select number of antivirus software packages are well crafted and can perform most of the essential functions automatically. These will run in the background, doing what they’re built to do, without the need for the user to click on anything. You can keep on doing your normal daily tasks with the assurance that your software is keeping you safe.

There are some software packages that are a bit more complicated to use. These often come with a lot of advanced features and additional benefits that may seem confusing for beginners. However, more advanced users can probably appreciate these kinds of additional features that they can control.

Maintain Efficient Speeds

Although antivirus is important to keep you safe from online threats and attacks, there are some antivirus software that can slow down the normal processing speed of your computer. When looking for antivirus software, make sure that you get one that is built to run in the background of the computer without affecting the speed of the normal processes.

If the software can successfully run in the background without slowing down your regular tasks, then you have found software worth investing in. Your antivirus software should not slow down streaming, web browsing, launching programs and applications, downloading files, copying or moving files, archiving files, installing or uninstalling applications.

However, remember that having an antivirus program that slows down your computer a bit is still better than using your computer without any protection at all. If your choices are currently limited to inexpensive ones that can affect computer speed, then you should at least get one to be protected.

You should also take note that different antivirus software will have the same performance in these aspects. One kind of software could be more effective for web browsing while another is more efficient to download files and programs. Check customer and expert reviews to determine which ones are best suited for your needs.

Price Point

Another significant factor that you should consider when it comes to choosing antivirus software is the price. How much are you willing to pay for this product? In this industry, you almost always get what you paid for.

There are tons of antivirus programs that are offered for free. These do offer the basic level of security and protection and some can even include a few other benefits. However, if you really want to get the maximum level of safety standards, you must be willing to spend some money on it.

Majority of the premium versions of antivirus software will come with a suite of additional features that are more than your average system scan. These include features for email and web protection for online communication, computer optimization, VPN for encrypted connections, and many more. In addition to that, there are some antivirus programs that offer security and protection packages for a whole family or for multiple computer units. If you want your network to be protected from malicious activities, you can check out these types of packages and subscriptions.

 

Additional Features

If you are planning to spend money on the best security package to deal with malware and viruses, be sure to check what additional features the company can offer to its users. There are many software options that simply provide the basic options such as running scans and removing viruses. But, there are choices that are also packed with many extra benefits.

For casual users who only use their computers or mobile devices to visit trusted websites and sending email, it may be difficult to appreciate the suite of additional features. However, more advanced users can surely find some benefit to having all these add-ons.

As your knowledge of virus protection expands further, you may think that you can benefit from additional features. Also, you may notice while comparing your options that now all antivirus software will offer the same features. If you have specific needs in mind, that can help you narrow down your choices. You may be looking into password protection or cloud storage that only a few antivirus software packages offer.

Here is a list of some of the common features that are included in premium antivirus software packages:

• Password protection

• VPN or Virtual Private Network

• Secure web browsers

• Proactive filter for URL, email, and attachment

• Wi-Fi monitoring

• Cleanup and optimize system performance

• Monitor online account data leaks

• Ranking system for threats

• Firewall and spam filter

• Parental content controls

• Secure browsing history, deletion of files, passwords, and bank details

• Cloud storage plus backup

Customer Support

Customer service may be the last thing on your mind when looking for antivirus software. However, just like any company that offers a product or service, it’s important to provide good customer support channels and services. For first-time users who encounter issues with the program such as difficulty finding and downloading the latest updates, they should be able to easily contact a representative to help them deal with the problem.

The ideal customer support system is one that is available 24/7 since you can get help anytime you experience an issue. However, most companies will provide different customer support channels that operate during business hours or extended business hours. These include live chat, email channels where you can send questions, or a FAQ page that includes detailed answers for the most common questions from their customers

Devices You Need to be Covered

The final thing you need to take into consideration is how many of your devices you want to get protection for. The majority of antivirus software in the market will cover laptops and personal computers. There are also packages available that include mobile devices like phones or tablets. If you have more than two personal computers at home, you might want to look into packages that can cover several devices.

Additionally, there are some plans that are better for iOS, Android, Mac, or PC. Before finalizing your purchase, make sure that the antivirus is compatible with the operating systems that you use.

Final Thoughts

It might take you a bit of time and research to find the perfect antivirus, especially if you have specific features in mind. Getting the right software for your needs may not be as easy. There are tons of customer reviews online as well as expert reviews if you’re not sure about something. These factors we’ve listed above should help you narrow down your choices and get the best value for your money.